Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is leaving the charity that the two created in order to start her own philanthropic endeavor that will be funded with $12.5 billion that she received as part of her exit.
“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” French Gates said in a statement.
French Gates, whose last day of work at the charity will be on June 7, said that she and her ex-husband agreed that she will “have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”